Wheel disk structure



Feb. 20, 1940.

e. A. LYON WHEEL DISK STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 15, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FE UP fearyle 4/661! Jjyam. Qua/W Filed Jan. 15, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 UP George 'dlbc rz 062/071.

FGb. 2U, 1940. LYON 2,190,669

WHEEL DI SK STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 15, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m2 7UP 6m rye; Q1567! fyarz.

Feb. 20, 1940. G, A, LYON 2,190,669

WHEEL DISK STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 15, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 86 [so s3 V5 311 61907196 6/6 flaQdM.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940.

' UNITED STATES PATENT VOFFICE' 8 Claims. (01. sol-3'1) This invention relates to a wheel construction,

and more particularly to a wheel disk structure having a novel ornamental wheel disk detachably connected to the wheel. v An object of this invention is to provide in a wheel disk structure a wheel disk of a novel construction, and simple to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wheel disk constructed in a novel way so as to 10 enhance its appearance and so as to cause it to have desirable high lights.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel multi-part ornamental wheel disk, the parts of which are connected together 15 interiorly of the disk and in such a way as to co operate with retaining means on the wheel.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided a wheel structure including a tire rim, an inner wheel mounting part having disk retaining springs, an ornamental wheel disk composed of a central crown part and an outer annular part interfltted and arranged in such manner as to cause the outer surface of each of these parts to reflect rays to the surface of the 25 other part.

Another feature of the invention relates to the manner in which the two parts of the disk are nested and interconnected so as to provide an edge in the interior of the disk for retaining co- 30 operation with springs carried by the wheel mounting part of the wheel.

Other. objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through a wheel and disk embodying the features of this invention and showing the manner in which the disk is retained in position over an outer side of the wheel by spring means carried by the wheel mounting part;

Figure 2isa cross-sectional view taken throiigh a depressed blank from which the disk of my in- 45 vention is made;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through the blank showing how it is formed into two separate .parts, and also illustrating in dotted lines how the position of the crown part is reversed 50 with reference to the ring part andnested therein for securement thereto;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating in detail. howthe two nested parts are interconnected and secured together; 55 Figure 5 is a front view of the disk:

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified structure wherein the wheel disk is spaced slightly from the tire rim, and wherein inward movement of the disk is limited by its coming into engagement with the wheel mounting 5 Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modification of the invention, showing the outer edge of the disk provided with cushioning means;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of disk provided with an outer ornamented shell secured thereon;

. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken through an annulus in the process-of being fabricated into a wheel disk;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating how the parts are assembled and connected in'finished form to pro vide a three-part disk from the disk shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken through another form of disk em yin the features of my invention;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken through a still further form of the invention;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through an annulus, illustrating it in the process of being manufactured into the disk shown in Figure 15; and

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view takenthrough/ a portion of a disk, showing a modified way of securing the central part of the disk to the outer ring part.

On the drawings:

The reference character Ill designates generally a wheel which includes a drop center tire rim ll having mounted thereon the usual tire [2. The rim II has secured to it a wheel mount- 40 ing part is provided with air openings 9 and adapted to be secured by a plurality of bolts and nuts ll to a wheel supporting member Ii. I The'wheel mounting part It has secured to it metallic material, such as sheet steel. The sheet of steel from which this disk is made may be initially blanked or depressed into a shape such after separated by severing them at the rib section 23, as indicated at in Figure 3. In performing this cutting operation, the cut edges of these two parts are turned inwardly toward each other, as indicated at 26 and 21 in Figure 3.

In addition thereto, the ring 24 may have its outer edge trimmed round and rolled or turned by suitable mechanism, as indicated at 28.

Thereafter, the severed crown part 22 is reversed in its position with reference to the ring 24 so that it is disposed in the dotted line position shown in Figure 3. In this position, it is nested in or telescopes a sleeve or neck section of the ring 24. When in this position, the crown part 22 has its'turned inner edge 26 facing and disposed parallel to the turned inner edge 2'! of the ring part 24. Also, the reduced section 23 on part 22 enables the neck of this part to telescope the inner margin of part 24. Thereafter, the two parts are pressed together by axial pressure on a press, whereby they are forced into a pressed or wedged flt.

These two parts may then be further secured together by curling, in a suitably designed punch and die, the inner edge 21 about the turned edge 26, so that the turned edge 26 will be disposed inside of the curled or rolled edge 21, as shown in Figure 4. The parts are thus interlocked together so as to form a unitary device in which the curved spherical outer surface of the crown portion 22 faces and is disposed in close proximity to the outwardly projecting convexly curved outer edge of the ring part 24. This arrangement is such that light may be reflected from the surface of one of these parts onto the other, and vice versa, thereby enabling highly desirable high lights.

The completed disk 20, as shown in Figure 5, may have an aperture 29 formed therein to permit of the valve capprojecting therethrough, should it be desired to have the valve stem accessible from the exterior of the disk.

In order to avoid a repetition of the description of the parts of the disk, I have employed the same numerals when used in describing the assembly of the parts of the disk in the completed disk shown in Figure 1. That is to say, I have designated the hemispherical crown part by the reference numeral 22, the annular outer ring part by the reference character 24, and its rolled outer edge by the reference numeral 28.

The connection of the two parts 22 and 24 together in the manner previously described results in there being, provided a rolled inner edge designated generally by the reference character 30 in Figure 1, which is located on the inner side of the disk, and more specifically, is disposed on the interior of the crown part 22 so as to be concealed thereby. The location and shape of this rolled edge 30 is such that when the disk is pressed inwardly into position on the outer side of the wheel, the free angular legs l8 of the spring elements It spring over and about the inner side of the rolled edge 30 to retain the disk in position on the wheel. During this application of the disk to the wheel, the outer rolled edge 28 of the disk, by'reason of its diameter, cooperates with the flange of the rim H to aid to a certain extent ininitially aligning the disk with the wheel.

Inward movement of the disk relative to the wheel is limited by the ring part 24 hearing against the wheel part l3, as shown in Figure 1,

which also aids in centering the disk relative to spring elements l8. Also, when the disk is in its retained position, air can circulate freely about its outer edge and through openings 9 in wheel part It. These openings further allow mud and dirt to be discharged from behind the disk.

In addition thereto, the outer edge 28 by reason of its being strengthened by the turning of the same, may be engaged by a pry-01f tool which may be pressed against the wheel rim to pry the disk loose from its retained engagement with the spring elements.

In Figure 6 I have illustrated a modification of the invention, in which the wheel rim II has secured to it a wheel mounting part l3 which carries disk retaining spring elements It similar to the elements I6.

I have illustrated a modified form of disk 20' in cooperation with these spring elements. The disk 20' includes a central crown part 22' and an outer annular part 24' having a rolled outer edge 28' spaced from a flange of the rim ll so as to permit air to circulate through such space. This feature as in the first form of my invention, enables air to circulate through the space separating the outer edge of the disk from the wheel rim and through apertures 32 in the wheel mounting part l3. This circulating air is sometimes necessary in order to aid in keeping the brake drum associated with the wheel cool. Also mud and dirt can be discharged through this space.

In order to provide a positive abutment for the disk on the wheel, I have found it desirable so to locate the rolled intermediate rear edge 30' of the disk as to enable it not only to be engaged by the spring elements 16', but in addition thereto to bear solidly against an outer surface of the wheel mounting part It. This engagement of the element l3 by the inner edge 30' of the disk serves to guide the diskand to limit the inward movement of the disk with reference to the wheel, and to aid the springs I 6' to hold the disk tightly in the final position in which it is pressed.

In Figure '7, I have illustrated a modification of the invention in which the outer turned edge 28 of a disk 20 has secured thereto at spaced intervals hollow cushioning blocks 33 adapted to bear against a flange of the usual wheel rim H, thereby providing for a cushioned engagement of the rim by the disk. That is to say, these blocks will be compressed when the disk is pressed into retained position on the wheel and permit bottoming of the disk on the wheel rim adjacent the spring contact. These rubber blocks 33 may' be suitably secured to the turned edge 28 byforcing portions thereof intothe interior of the turned edge, or by crimping the turned edge on portions of the rubber blocks. Also, when the disk is provided with these cushioning members, it may be necessary to use slightly longer spring elements l6 to offset the difference in the spacing of the outer edge of the-disk from the flange of the wheel rim.

In Figure 8, I have illustrated a still further form of the invention in which the disk 20 has secured over its outer surface an ornamental thin metallic shell 35. This shell 35 is formed so as to have the same configuration as the outer surface of the disk, and has its outer edge rolled at a about the turned outer edge of the out. with this construction, the disk III may be made of a relatively rough material, and a finished surface may be applied thereto by securing the shell 95 over its outer surface. The shell may have desirable finish, and may, if desired, be given a high lustrous finish, such for example as a chromium coating or the like.

I have found tha by providing the disk shown in Figure l with a highly lustrous surface, such as by bufling it and'then coatingit with a chromium coating, very desirable high lig'hts are obtained. That is to say, the disk, by reason of the relative arrangement of the outer surfaces of the crown and ring parts 22' and 24; is selfilluminating, so to speak, and also'all undesirable shadows are eliminated, and the entire disk seems to sparkle with color and light.

Also, the multi-part construction of my disk is advantageous in that after the parts have been separated from a single blank, as described here inabove, they may be separately bufied, plated on finished as desired before their interconnection to form a unitary disk. The separate finishing of these parts is advantageous in that no depressions or grooves arepresented during the finishing or plating operation, such grooves or depressions being unsatisfactory and undesirable during finishing, for the reasonthat it is dilficult to get into them with a polishing or bufllng tool,

and moreover such grooves or depressions can not be satisfactorily finished or plated.

After the parts have been suitably treated or finished, they may be interconnected in a punch and die having chamois covered surfaces for engaging the exterior or finished surfaces of the disk. While I have found it much more satisfactory and economical to interconnect theparts by the use of punch press equipment, the invention is not to be thus limited, since obviously it 'would also be feasible to connect the'parts by ment to thegeneral shape shown in Figure 9.

Thereafter, its annulus is cut at two points, as indicated at 49 and 50, thereby providing three parts, 42, 44 and 45. Part 42 is a central crown part, part 44 is an annular intermediate ring part, the part 45 is an outer ring-like head. The initial position of these parts after they have been blanked from the common annulus is shown in full lines in Figure 9. The lines of severance, as

pointed out above, are indicated at 49 and 59.

After the'parts have been severed, they are suitably finished, as by bufiing and plating or spraying. Then'the finished parts are so positioned as to reverse the positions of the two parts 42 and 45 with reference to the intermediate part 44. That is to say, these two parts are disposed in the dotted line positions shown in Figure 9.

The part 42 has its margin formed so esto nest within the inner margin of the ring 44. This is accomplished by slightly depressing at 43 the edge of the-part 42. By thus depresslng'the edgeof the part 42, it is possible to fit it inside of the inner margin of ring 44. These two parts are then forced into a tight nested or wedge-like fit,

3 similar te-tbet described in connection with -'l'heouterbead44,wl ieudisposedinthedotted line position shown in 9. has a turned edge'which nests on and fits over 0. turned edge girtthe outer margin of the intermediate rim; v The nested edges of' 'the two parts 42 and 44 are then connected to provide a turned edge 44 similarto the turned edge 39, andthe nested edges of the parts 44 and 4! are interconnected so asto provide a turned edge 41.. The outer edge of the head 49 may also be rolled or turned as indicated at 49 to provide the disk with a-smooth outer edge. N Y 1 This three-part disk construction is advantageous in that it affords an easy means of ob taining contrasting colors in a disk. For example, prior to the assembly ofv the three parts in interconnected relationship, they may be finished in such a manner as to cause the parts 42 and 45 to have chromium plated exterior surfaces, andthe part 44 to have an exterior surface finished in color. Also, by usingchamois covered die parts during the press operations for interconnecting the parts of the disk, marring or damage to the exterior surfaces of the parts of the disk is prevented.

In Figure 11, the form. of the invention illustrated therein comprises two parts 92 and 94 blanked from a single sheet of material in much the same manner as the parts 22 and 24 of 'the first described form of the invention. Part 42 has a skirt 9| which telescopes or nests inside of a skirt 83 on the part 84. In other words, these two parts have a pressed fit whereby they are tightly secured together. The engagement 7 of these parts may be supplemented, if so desired,

by welding the skirts 8| and 83 together. Also, i

the skirt 93 has a rearwardly projecting turned edge 90 for cooperation with springs on a wheel such as are shown in Figure 1.

The exterior surfaces of the two parts 82 and. 94 are covered by a highly lustrous shell 85 hav ing its outer edge rolled at 89 about the outer edge of the part 84. This shell 95 provides the disk with a smooth continuous external appearance, or in other words, eliminates the appearf ance .of any grooves or depressions inthe exterior surface of the disk. It also enables the body of the disk to be made of rough, unfinished parts which are easily finished by the mere appli- .cation of the finished shell as thereover.

In Figure 12, I have illustrated still another ,form of the invention which can be made in accordance with the operations illustrated in Figwe 13. The body of this disk comprises a central crown part 92 and an outer ring part 94. The

two parts are blanked from a single sheet of material, as illustrated in full lines in Figure 13, the process of making these parts being the same as described in connection with the-first form of the invention. The parts are severed from each In this inverted position, the crown part 92 has an inclined skirt 9| which is nested inside of a skirt 99 on the part 94. These parts are secured together by turning the edge of oneskirt about the edge of the other to form a turned annular edge 90, as shownin Figure 12. Thisedge 99 is adapted to cooperate with spring retaining means on a wheel, such as illustrated in Figure 1, for

the purpose of securing the disk over the outer side of the wheel.

The two parts 92 and 9d are not finished, for the reason that they are covered by an outer shell 95 which has its outer edge rolled about the outer edge of the part 94, as indicated at 96. This outer shell 95 may have a highly lustrous exterior surface, such as is obtained by chromium plating, or may consist of an annulus of stainless steel material. It is formed over the exterior surfaces of the parts 92 and 9d, so as closely to follow and conform with the outer contour of these parts. In Figure 14, I have illustrated a modified form of connection between the central and outer parts 2 and 2%. According to this form of the invention, instead of curling the inner edge of the outer part about the edge of the cen-- tral part, as is illustrated in Figure 4, both of the edges 25 and 26* are curled, one within the other. This curling or rolling of the edges into interlocked engagement may be efiected by suitable press equipment having spring urged pads and having a groove for defining the shape of the rolled edge to be formed.

From the foregoing description of the diiferent modifications of the invention, it will be evident that I have in every instance used the material of the parts or portions of the disk to define the inner annular edge to engage a part of the wheel.

That is to say, this construction is of such a nature as to eliminate the necessity of providing a separate ring or skirt welded or otherwise secured to the inner side of the disk. Also, the formation of the inner intermediate edge is such that it is provided with a double thickness. This rigidifies and strengthens the disk at the point of its connection to the wheel, or in other words, at the place in the disk where it is subjected to the greatest stress in its application to a wheel.

In all forms of the invention, the disk can be easily removed by the insertion of a pry-oil tool between the disk and the wheel rim, and by thereafter prying the disk loose from the central part or inner part otthe wheel. If'desired, the disk may benotched or apertured to receive the end of a pry-ofi tool.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior t. 1 I claim as my invention: 1 k

1. An ornamental wheel disk for disposition inwardly of a wheel rim, comprising a central crown part and an outer annular part secured to said crown part, said parts having inwardly disposed connected marginal portions disposed in telescoping relation and interlocked by a rolled edge.

' 2. An ornamental wheel disk for disposition inwardly of a wheel rim, comprising a central crown part and an outer annular part secured to said crown part, said parts being disposed and held in acute angular relationship with respect to each other by interfitting telescoping portions secured together interiorly of the disk.

3..An ornamental wheel disk for disposition inwardly of a wheel rim, comprising a central crown part and an outer annular part secured to said crown part, said parts having' joined consleeve-like portion,

areaeee cealed portions to provide a portion cooperable with disk retaining means on the wheel to detachably secure said disk to said wheel, said crown part having its margin formed into a and said-outer part having a sleeve-like inner section adapted to be telescoped by the sleeve like portion of the grown part.

4. An ornamental wheel disk'ifor disposition inwardly of a wheel rim, comprising a central crown part and an outer annular part secured to M said crown part, said parts having joined concealed portions to provide a portion cooperable with disk retaining means on the wheel to detachably secure said disk to said wheel, said outer part having its inner edge curled about and enveloping 15 the axially inner edge of the crown part so as to interlock said edges on the inner side of the disk.

5. An ornamental wheel disk for disposition inwardly of a wheel rim, comprising a central crown part and an outer annular part secured to said crown part, said parts having joined concealed portions to provide a portion cooperable with disk retaining means on the wheel to detachably secure said disk to said wheel, said parts being covered by a shell nested thereover and secured thereon by having its edge rolled over the outer edge of said outer part.

6. An ornamental wheel disk for disposition inwardly of a wheel rim, comprising a central crown part and an outer annular part secui ito said crown part, said parts having joined concealed portions to provide a portion cooperabi'e with disk retaining means on the wheel to detachably secure said disk to said wheel, said parts being covered by a shell nested thereover and locked therewith by having its edge rolled over the outer edge of said outer part, I said two parts defining an intermediate reentrant groove, and said shell por-- tion having a portion for fitting in and concealing the outer surface of the groove.

7. In combination, a wheel including a tire rim and an inner part carrying disk retaining spring means, and an ornamental disk for disposition over an outer side of the wheel inwardly of the rim and for cooperation with said spring means, comprising a circular crown part and an outer annular part for disposition between the crown. part and the wheel rim, said parts having nested connected axially inner portions forming an edge for cooperation with said retaining spring means, said edge being disposed to bear on said inner part of the wheel so as to limit inward movement of the disk with reference to the wheel, said outer connected axially inner portions forming an edge for cooperation with said retaining spring means, said edge being formed by telescoping and nested portions of said parts interlocked by the inner margin of one part being curled about the inner margin of the other part.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

